Iraq violence set to delay US troop withdrawal

[Mari333]

The United States is likely to delay the withdrawal of the first large phase of combat troops from Iraq for at least a month after escalating bloodshed and political instability in the country.

The US Commanding General Ray Odierno had been due to give the order within 60 days of the general election held in Iraq on 7 March, when the cross-sectarian candidate Ayad Allawi edged out the incumbent leader, Nouri al-Maliki.

US officials had been prepared for delays in negotiations to form a new government, but now appear to have balked after Maliki's coalition aligned itself with the theocratic Shia bloc to the exclusion of Allawi, who attracted the bulk of the minority Sunni vote. There is also concern over interference from Iraq's neighbours, Iran, Turkey and Syria

With sectarian tensions rising, the al-Qaida fighters in Iraq and affiliated Sunni extremist groups have mounted bombing campaigns and assassinations around the country. The violence is widely seen as an attempt to intimidate all sides of the political spectrum and press home the message to the departing US forces that militancy remains a formidable foe.














http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/12/iraq-us-troop-withdrawal-delay


jesus f krist.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Perhaps it should read

Iraq violence a set-up to delay US troop withdrawal

[amborin]

6. +1 just a handy excuse; and what about our huge $$$$$ embassy there?

[mike_c]

2. no one could have possibly predicted an outbreak of violence...

...in Iraq.

:rofl: I just wanted to find out how weird it feels to type that.... :rofl:

[faceit]

3. They are going to keep them there, so the corporations can continue to pillage money

[damntexdem]

4. Iraqi violence is all the more reason to pull the troops out.

Yeah, we made the mess with our invasion; but Maliki's government has certainly made it more of a mess. It's way past time for the U.S. to pull out -- say, seven years and two months late.

[ixion]

5. you knew this was coming

because it's all about the players behind the scenes. The rest is window dressing.